News

Tour Rundown: A playoff in the Playoffs

Published

10 months ago

Aug 11, 2025

The PGA Tour playoffs got off to a rousing start in Memphis this week. The U.S. Women’s Amateur was captured once more by an effulgent golfer from Stanford, this time called Megha Ganne. A young Demon Deacon made a name for himself on the PGA Tour Americas. It was a week that Golf August desperately needed. Winners dispatched touts of all shapes and sizes in Tennessee, Ontario, Illinois, Oregon, Scotland, Nebraska, and Washington state. That’s quite a number of triumphs to address, so let’s crack on with this week’s Tour Rundown.

PGA Tour @ FedEx St. Jude Championship: Playoff decides first leg of FEC Playoffs

Justin Rose was not the Englishman anticipated to win in Memphis this week. All signs pointed to Tommy Fleetwood finally exorcising the demons of the U.S. PGA Tour. Instead, those demons got Fleetwood once more, relegating him to a tie for third, one soul-crushing stroke out of the playoff.

Justin Rose and J.J. Spaun found their way to 16-under par totals at TPC Southwind. Tied with Fleetwood, one shot behind, was world number one Scottie Scheffler. Last week’s winner, Cameron Young, rode a final-round 64 to solo fifth. After Fleetwood reclaimed the lead with four to play, only to lose it one last time with a par-bogey run on the 16th and 17th holes (16 a par 5), the stage was left to two U.S. Open champions.

We’ve seen a lot of Justin Rose in this Ryder Cup year. We’ve come to know a good deal about J.J. Spaun in his breakout season. In the overtime session, the pair traipsed three additional times to the watery 18th at Southwind. The first go-round was halved in pars, while the second saw both make birdie. On the third attempt at separating the tie, Rose approached to 12 feet, while Spaun sat at seven. Inconceivably, the Englishman made while the California kid missed. The victory made an even dozen for Rose on the PGA Tour, and was his first since the 2024 AT&T at Pebble Beach.

DP World Tour @ Nexo Championship: See the Forrest through no trees

If there’s one thing to be said for links golf, it’s usually treeless. For a golfer named Grant Forrest to triumph in Aberdeenshire, on a treeless modern links, is ironic. For much of Sunday, things were quite risible. Forrest was the class of the week, reaching 10 under par before closing with a clumsy double at the 72nd hole, to win by four shots over England’s Joe Dean. The previous 71 holes, however, were the thread of dreams.

Forrest posted but one round in the 60s on the week, but it was a stylish 66 on day two. The remaining three rounds, however, featured 71s and a 72. Nothing posh, mind you, but better than the 74s and 75s that weakened the campaigns of the competition. Each time someone proposed a challenge to the eventual winner, he fell back with a score of 3 or 4 over par. Forrest eschewed such mediocrity and earned a second DP World Tour title in three years.

Korn Ferry Tour @ Pinnacle Bank: Shelton’s loss is Christo’s gain

Tommy Fleetwood wasn’t the only journeyman to suffer an agonizing loss on Sunday. Alabama’s (both the state and the U) Robby Shelton, a four-time winner on the KFT, finished bogey-bogey at the Pinnacle Bank Championship. A member of the 2011 USA side in the Walker Cup, Shelton has yet to uncover the magic serum required to stick on the PGA Tour. Sunday’s finish didn’t help.

Shelton appeared to all the world to have matters in his hands after turning in 5-under 31 on day four. In the blink of an eye, the fingers loosened, and the sands of victory slid away. Shelton closed with a plus-three 39 on the inward half, opening wide the barn door for a hungry challenge. A hard-to-miss Christo Lamprecht took advantage, holing from a greenside bunker for a final-hole birdie, to reach 19-under par.

Lamprecht tips out at six feet eight inches tall. The South African champion is impossible to overlook. He also had a fine outward half on Sunday, turning in minus-three. Unlike Shelton, Lamprecht was able to close in 1-under 35 and make up four shots on Shelton on the second nine. Professional golf is sometimes about heroic acts, and sometimes about opportunistic acquisitions. Sunday in Omaha gave us the latter resolution.

Chip-in for the win ?

Christo Lamprecht gets it done in style @pinnbankgolf. pic.twitter.com/RgOF0X5WeZ

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) August 10, 2025

PGA Tour Americas @ Windsor: Brennan is made of BioSteel

Michael Brennan was a program leader during four years at Wake Forest. He always found himself a level below the Walker Cup-calibre players, so it’s safe to say that he has entered the professional ranks with something to prove. Throughout the entirety of the PGA Tour Amerique (we are in Canada, after all) Brennan has moved his way up the rungs of the Fortinet Cup.

This week in Windsor, the Virginia native opened with a shiny 61, and held the lead the entirety of the western Ontario run. Brennan followed his nine-under opener with two 65s and a 64. While the Ambassador Golf Club offered little resistance to the talented field, it’s asking quite a lot to go lower than 25-under par for four rounds. Despite a coalition of 62s and 63s this week, no challenger could parlay more than one to offer resistance to Brennan’s march to victory.

Job Finished ?

Michael Brennan walks it off in style for his first career victory at the BioSteel Championship. pic.twitter.com/jWdC6Dylt3

— PGA TOUR Americas (@PGATOURAmericas) August 10, 2025

PGA Tour Champions @ Boeing Classic: Allan wrenches victory from Els

There was no room for error in Washington State on Sunday, with Steve Allan playing perfect golf. The Australian posted seven birdies and eleven pars for 65. He reached fifteen-under on the week, and set a target for all comers. For a time, Ernie Els seized the lead, but a stretch-run bogey on par-five fifteenth did the big man in. Stewart Cink also had his eyes on a victory in timber country, but he fell victim to a mid-round malaise. Late birdies at 15 and 16 moved him ahead of Els, but he could not entice one final stroke from the Snoqualmie Ridge layout to solicit a playoff. The victory was Allan’s third of the season, and moved him inside the top five in the Schwab Cup season-long race.

Making it look easy ?

Steve Allan makes birdie after this bunker shot to take the solo lead on No. 18 @BoeingClassic. pic.twitter.com/MthDy93rNG

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 10, 2025

LIV @ Chicago: Burmester wins in playoff

Dean Burmester made a six-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win his second career LIV title. Burmester overcame the Iberian duo of Jon Rahm and Josele Ballester, after the three had tied at 9 under par. It wasn’t quite the upset that took place at 1987 Masters, when Larry Mize defeated Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman in extra holes, but it was close. Rahm being Rahm, and Ballester with a bright future, Burmester was an afterthought, until he wasn’t.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open

Published

7 hours ago

Jun 3, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX Tour Photographer made the trip from the Memorial Tournament across the country to the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera. Check out links to all the photos below!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

2 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

News

Tour Tech Rundown: Heroic Henley

Published

3 days ago

Jun 1, 2026

Ronald Montesano

Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

Both golfers found the fairway off the tee, and Henley improved on his regulation play with an approach to four feet. Cole did himself proud, tucking an iron to a dozen feet, but he was unable to convert the putt for three. Henley is one of the best putters on tour, and he proved it once more by draining a putt for a fourth consecutive birdie, and a sixth PGA Tour title. For Eric Cole, that first victory should come, and soon. He has done everything necessary to earn the chalice lift.

Henley’s Suitcase

Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

Soo Bin Joo had her eyes on a maiden LPGA title. She held the lead after two rounds, then hit a red light at the intersection of can-I and how-To. Joo posted plus-two on day three in New Jersey, and dropped to a T4 finish, which was still a career-best for the young Korean golfer. Instead of a new face, a familiar face returned to the top of the podium.

Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

DP World Tour @ Austrian Alpine: KK? KK!

Kota Kaneko has a rhythmic name. It has strong vowels and a run of voiceless stops in its crunchy K sounds. On Sunday in Austria, Kaneko put a stop to a challenge from Portugal’s Ricardo Gouveia and everyone else, and claimed a first-ever title on the DP World Tour. Gouveia did well to reach 16-under par over four days, but Kaneko held firm, two shots in the clear.

Davis Bryant of the USA also forged a strong challenge for the win. He ended in a tie with Gouveia for second place. Kaneko began and finished his final round in a bit of a malaise, but he caught fire midway through. Birdies at 10, 12, and 13 provided the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line without breaking a serious sweat.

Kaneko’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping Max G440
Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Arm Lock #7

Korn Ferry Tour @ UNC Health Championship: Improbably Alvaro

Alvaro Ortiz may have had a bit of scare on the outward nine on Sunday, but he came through in clutch fashion in the end. Ortiz began the day bogey-double, and added another double bogey at the 11th hole. He was mired in a downward trend, spiraling away from the top of the leader’s board. Ortiz found hope at the 14th, where his first birdie of the day tumbled home. Inspired, he closed with birdies and 17 and 18 to catch Ross Steelman at 10-under par, and the duo returned to the 18th deck for overtime.

The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
Irons: Ping Blueprint S irons
Wedges
Putter: Scottsdale TR Piper C

A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026

LIV @ Korea: Me llamo Joaquin

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann had been away from the LIV winner’s circle throughout all of 2026. This week in Korea, he reminded us that he is still a force to consider. Niemann chased down Taylor Gooch over the closing holes at Asiad Country Club, then claimed victory with a hole-one birdie in extra time. Bryson DeChambeau claimed solo third, one shot in arrears at minus-eleven. Dustin Johnson finished on fourth, one putt farther back.

Niemann’s Suitcase